Retractable landing light



Dec. 25, 1934. Q LEMM 1,985,611

RETRACTABLE LANDING LIGHT Filed Oct. 30, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet l JWENTUA Jrrumvma Dec."25, 1934.

L. F. LEMM RETRACTABLE LANDING LIGHT 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 30, 1938 J NVENTU LEMM JTTD'PNEYS.

Dec. 25, 1934. F, LEMM RETRACTABLE LANDING LIGHT 4 sheet s-sheet 3 Filed Oct, 3 1933 QTTUHNEYE Dec. 25; 1934. L F LEMM 1,985,611

RETRACTABLE LANDING LIGHT Filed Oct. 50, 1955 4 Sheets-Shefi- 4 -JVV.1E.'NTZ7R.

- LELEMM QI'TU HNE'YS Patented Dec.- 25, 1934 nu'rnnc'rannn LANDING LIGHT s PATENT OFFICE Lester F. Lemm, Lynwood, (la-lit, acsignor to Fred G. Breding, Huntington Park, Calif.

Application October so, 1933, Serial No. 695,861

7 Claims.

My inventionrelates to a pivoted type of landing light for airplanes in which the light or lamp housing when in its inoperative position is housed in the structure of the airplane,*such as being housed in the wing or in the fuselage or other suitable place, there will not be an air resistance or disturbance to the air flow created by any projecting parts of the landing light. The pivoted landing lights,

10 for instance, are illustrated in the patent to Van Horn, 1,793,656, of February 24, 1931, for aeroplane landing light.

An object and feature of my invention in connection with the pivoting landing light is a simplified and strong construction for swinging the light on a pivot in order to house the light or to project or extend the light for illumination pur- A further detailed feature is the provision of a type of rotating or oscillating device by which the light may be extended or projected from the wing or body of the airplane and held at any desired angle of inclination against the reaction of the air while the airplane is in flight. For this purpose 1 mount the light on a substantial arm structure which is secured to an oscillating shaft and this shaft is oscillated by means of a worm and worm gear drive, the worm being rotated by a drum or sheave having a cable leading to suitable controls operated by the pilot.

A further detailed feature of my improvement relates to the structure of the arm. This is made in a. plurality of parts, one of which is in the form of a bracket structure which oscillates with the main oscillating shaft and the other a projecting arm to which the lamp housing and the reflector are attached. This structure in its arcuate movement moves the lamp from its housed 40 position to a projecte which a movement up to or somewhat greater than 90 degrees may be obtained. The lamp and the projecting part of the arm extends through an opening in the wing or the airplane body structure. The lamp when projected may be held at any desired angle in reference to the body surface in which it is housed and, therefore, if located in the lowerpart of the wing it may have any desired inclination as to the longitudinal, horizontal axis of the airplane when this is presumedto be flying in a horizontal plane. When the lamp is housed in the wing the arm oscillates in a vertical'plane. Or if the lamp is housed in the fuselage, for instance, the nose of the airplane, and the projecting arm swings in this being in order that d or extended position in a horizontal plane, the

sired inclination to project nose of the airplane or proardly, this being in a horizontal 'ahead, across the ject the light outw plane if the airplane is Another object and is a tilting or inclining so that this may be oscilia lampmay have any dethe light stra ght flying horizontally.

feature of my invention mechanism for the lamp ted on the axis of the projecting arm and, therefore, should they arm operate in a vertical plane, housed in the lower surface e on opposite sides of the may oscillat plane. of the of the lamp.

projecting nose of the fuselage or other and is swung in a horizontal plane will tilt the beam of light or tilting movement as when the lamp is of the wing, the lamp vertical and retracting movement Or if the lamp is housed in the place in the fuselage the inclining either upwardly or downwardly in reference to this horizontal plane.

An object and feature of my invention in regard to the tilting or inclining movements of the lamp comprise partly rotating the extension arm which carries the lamp on its tion this is done by axis and in my construcusing an oscillating arm connected to the extension arm and shifting the oscillating arm by means of a reciprocating rod operating in alignment wi rotating shaft. formed by me on a screw on Another feature of transmitting the movemen ing rod to the oscillating arm This'is, v ans of a worm drive gear operating the reciprocating rod.

th the main oscillating or in my construction, pery invention relates to t from the reciprocatby'a resilient construction, such as by springs, so that when a certain inclination or tiltis obt its rotating drum or she ained the worm and ave may be left in a fixed position and the lamp when housed brought to its neutral or inoperative lamp is housed.

surface of the wing or the position flush with the fuselage in which the A further object and feature of my invention is a construction for automatically bringing. the

tilted or inclined lamp housin operative housing g to its neutral or inposition and this, in my invention, uses tracks which engage a roller on the end of the oscillating arm and brings this arm into a central position when the lamp is housed.

Therefore, when the la the swinging movement of is again projected by the extension arm the springs will automatically swing the lamp to its tilted or inclined position. 4

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan of my invention taken in the direction of the arrow 1. presuming the lamp to be in its housed position inthe lower surface of a wing.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 22 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows, the extension arm and lamp housing being shown in elevation with the lamp in the housed position.

Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 2 with the lamp projected.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, taken in the direction of the arrows, showing in dotted linesthe' tilted or inclined positions of the lamp.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse section on the line 55 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 in the direction 'of the arrows through the worm drive for inclining or tilting the lamp housing.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section on the line 7--7 of Fig. in the direction of the arrows, showing the worm and worm wheel drive for projecting and retracting the lamp from its housed position in the wing or airplane body.

- Fig. 8 is a perspective view of part of an airplane illustrating the fuselage and the wings.

Referring first to the details in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5, the covering structure of an airplane wing or body,-'such as the nose of the fuselage, is indicated by the numeral 11. This may be a fabric or metal covering or other suitable material and this material is provided with a circular opening 12 or an opening of any outline to accommodate the particular shape-of the lamp. A metal or other suitable protecting ring 13 is secured to the outer surface of the wing or body structure, forming a protective element. At the side of the sur-' face covering of the wing or fuselage there is a base plate 14 and this is mounted and supported by any suitable structure, the details not being illustrated herein as this will differ in accordance with the manner of constructing the airplane wings or the fuselage. The lamp, designated by the assembly numeral 15, has a suitable reflector 16 with a flange structure 17, the flange engaging with the ring 13 and on the inside thereof when the lamp is housed as illustrated in Fig. 2. The glass or lens of the lamp is indicated at 18. A hub structure 19 is connected to the'inner portion of the lamp housing or reflector and to this is secured a circular clamp 20 having fastening screws 21 on one side and a flange 22 with fastening screws 23 on the opposite side. The clamp portion 24 is thus secured to an extension -arm 25 of the arm assembly 26.

This arm assembly has an elongated bearing hub 27, through which extends the extension arm 25, and formedrigid with this bearing there is a yoke arm 28 having two branches 29 and 30. For the sake of lightness of construction these are ribbed. A brace designated by the assembly numeral 31 has a clamping end 32 which is secured tightly-around the extension arm 25 at the end of the bearings 27 and this brace has a pair of diverging straps 33 which attach to the flange or outer portion of the lamp housing, as indicated at 34. (Note Fig. 3). i

The general mounting for the arm assembly 26 is as follows, having reference particularly to Fig. 5: A pair-of journal bases 35; and 36 are secured to the base plate 14 andeach of these has a journal section 37 with bushings as therein. R0-

tatable in these bushings there is a main tubular rotatable shaft designated by the assembly numeral 39. This has a tubular sleeve 40, a plug 41 fitted snugly in one end, a cover plate 42'secured to the plug by means of the screw 43; a hub 44 is fitted on the outside of the sleeve 40 and connected to this sleeve and the plug 41 by means of the pin 45. A radially extending segmental flange 46 extends outwardly from the hub and has a segmental rim 4'7. A segmental worm wheel 48 is secured to the hub. This wheel has a segmental groove 49 and is attached to the flange 46 by means of pins 49'. The worm wheel has worm teeth 50. (Note Figs. 5 and 7). 1

The mounting for the opposite end .of the main oscillating shaft .and also the structure which houses the reciprocating rod for tilting and in-.

clining the lamp is as follows, having reference particularly to Figs. 5 and 6. Spaced from the journal bases as and as there is a journal base 51 secured to the base plate 14. This has a journal 52 with a bushing 53 therein and rotatably mounted in the bushing there is a sleeve 54 forming, in.

The mechanism for rotating the main tubular shaft 39 to project the lamp from its housing or 'to retract. it into such housing is as follows, having reference particularly to Figs. 1, 5 and 7:

A worm gear housing designated by the assembly numeral 59 extends upwardly from the journals' 37 and in this there is mounted a worm shaft 60, this having anti-friction ball bearings 61 of any suitable character. The gear housing is made in two sections secured by bolts 62. A worm 63 is secured in any suitable manner on the worm shaft 60, this being illustrated as by a collar 64 and pin construction 65. Secured to the outer projecting end of the worm shaft there is a driving drum or sheave 66, this being illustrated as keyed to the worm shaft 60 at 67 and having grooves 68 for the operating cable 69, which cable leads to a suitable operating mechanism, not illustrated, under the control of the pilot. A partial protective housing 70 forms an integral part of the gear housing 59 and encloses part of the mental-worm gear 48 this gear is oscillated and transmits-motion through the hub 44 to the sleeve 40 of the main oscillating tubular shaft 39, the

-plug'4-1, as above mentioned, forming a stiffening andbracing element. The torque transmitted to the sleeve 40 is transferred by. the hub to the arm 30 of the yoke arm 28. The sleeve 54 is For instance: if the lamp is housed in the lower surface of the wing and such surface presumed to besubstantiallyhorizontal when the airplane is lying in a horizontal'plane, the lampin its pro- 66 not driven but acts as an idle support for the iecting and retracting movement will swing in a vertical plane or if the lamp is housed in the sides of the fuselage; for instance, the nose of the fuselage; with the tubular shaft 39 vertical the oscillating movement of the extension arm 25 in projec'ting and retracting the lamp housing will be in a horizontal plane.

The mechanism for tilting or inclining the lamp by rotating the extension arm on'its axis is as follows, having reference particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and/.6:

As above mentioned, the journal base 51 has a journal 52 at one side with a bushing and at the opposite side there is a journal base "15 which is constructed in the worm housing '76. A bushing 7'1 is mounted in the journal '15, such bushing having a flange 78. A sleeve bushing '79 fits inside of the sleeve section 54 and a second sleeve bushingfits inside the sleeve 40. A reciprocating rod 81 has an enlargedend 82 slidable in the bushing sleeve '19 and has an enlarged collar 83 secured to its opposite end by a pin 84 and slidable in the sleeve bushing 80. A screw 85 is formed on the enlargement 82 and is also' slidable in the sleeve '19 and in the sleeve 7'7, the sleeve 77 having a groove 86 engaged by the pin 8'7 through the enlarged end to prevent rotation of the rod 81. A drum or sheave 88 has a threaded wearing internal worm 89'engaging the threads 85. This sheave 88 has a helical groove 90 around which is wrapped a control cable 91. A semi-circular protective cover 92 forms a partial housing for the sheave and the cable.

The means for transmitting motion from the reciprocating rod 81 to the extension arm 25 is as follows: (Note particularly Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5.) a

An oscillating arm 93 has a hub section 94 secured to the end of the extension arm 25 by a pin 95 or the like. This hub, preferably, abuts closely one end of the bearing hub 27. The arm 93 has a lateral extension 96 with a hub 97 having a perforation 98. This perforation is, preferably, oval and allows free passage of the rod 81 therethrough and in oscillation of the arm 93 the rod 81 cannot contact with either the upper or lower surfaces of the perforation. The opposite sur-- faces of the hub 97 are spherically curved, as indicated at 99, forming-parts of a sphere of large radius. There are two coiled springs 100 coiled on the rod 81 and one spring bears on the enlargement 82 and the hub 97 and the other spring bears on the enlarged collar 83 and the hub 9'7.

By the above described construction when the lamp is normally in its housed position and it is not intendedto be tilted by the rotation of the arm 25 the hub 9'1 on the arm 93 occupies a midposition between the arms of the yoke bracket 28. However, after the lamp has been moved out of its housed position a longitudinal move-.

ment of the rod 81 in either direction causes a rotational movement ofthe arm 93. This arm is held resiliently in position by the two springs 100. These springs are of equal strength so that normally the hub 97 is midway between the enlargements 82 and 83 of the rod 81. A swinging movement of the arm 93 through the medium of the hub 94 and the pin 95 rotates the extension arm'25 on its axis and thus tilts or -inclines the lamp as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 4. As above mentioned the brace 31 is clamped to the extension arm 25 and also to the flange of the lamp and aids in holding the lamp in a steady position. The springs 100 are sufliciently stiff so that when a lamp is tilted or inclined the wind pressure does not cause a vibration of the lamp.

By this construction if the lamp is housed in the bottom of the wing and the arm 25 is swung in a vertical plane the beam of light may,be tiltedor inclined-to the right or the left of this vertical plane. Or if the lamp is housed in the fuselage and the arm 25 swings outwardly in a horizontal plane a beam of light may be tilted either upwardly or downwardly from the plane of movement: of the arm 25.

The mechanism and construction for bringing "the lamp into its neutral position for housing,

even if it is tilted, is asfollows:

The operator or pilot in handling the lamp may not wish to return the lamp by moving the rod 81 to a neutral position but he may want to have this left so that if the lamp is. projected by swinging the arm 25 in a plane the lamp when projected from the housed position will have the beam of light tilted or inclined. But it is necessary for the lamp to be centered in order that it may house snugly with the flange 17 oi. the lamp in contact with the ring 13 onthe airplane structure. To obtain this automatic movement a guide track structure 101 is used. This has a base 102 secured to the plate 14 and has a pair of parallel spaced rails 103, each of which has a diverging end 104 (note Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5). The arm 93 is provided with a slight extension 105 and this has a beveled surface 106 against which is placed a guide wheel 10'7 mounted on a stud- 108 secured in the extension and at right angles to the inclined face 106. Therefore, when the lamp is shifted from its extended position of Fig. 3 to the housed position of Fig. 2 and the arm 93 is inclined out of its neutral position the wheel 10'! will engage first either one of the flared rail ends 104 and guide the wheel and thus the arm 93 into its neutral or center position when the wheel will fit between the two parallel rail sections 103. when this action occurs and the enlargements 82' and as of the rod 81 are not centrally positioned one of the springs 100 will become compressed and the other extended. prevent the proper housing of the lamp which' -is now centered so that the flange 1'1 of the lamp engages the ring 13 ontheairplane structure.

As above mentioned, cables 69 and 91 may lead to a convenient control mechanism and thus the pilot or operator of the lamps can swing a lamp outwardly from its housed position through any desired arcuate movement and then tilt or incline the lamp in order to project a beam of light to one side or the other of the plane of movement of the arm 25. The operator need not return the lamp to its neutral position for housing but However, this does nothe merely has to retract the arm 25 by rotating the tubular shaft 39 to bring the lamp again into its housed position.

In Fig. 8 I have shown in diagram part of an airplane and in the wings the lamps are shown dotted to represent these as on the lower surface. Other lamps are illustrated, as being in the nose of the wing, one on each side.

. Various changes may be made in the principles of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof, as set forth in the description, drawings and claims.

I claim:

1. In a retractable landing light, a rotatable shaft having an arm with an inner and outer section at substantially right angles, the inner section being secured to the shaft. a lamp "secured shaft the arm swings in a plane and the lamp may be moved in arcuate movement from a housed to an extended position, the outer section of the arm being rotatable on its axis and means to rotate said outer section to tilt or incline the lamp in reference to the plane of its arcuate swinging movement.

- 2. In a retractable landing light, as claimed in claim 1, the means to .rotate the arm on its axis having a resilient mounting and means cooperative with the resilient mounting to return the arm to its neutral position on retraction by a retracting rotation of the said shaft.

3. In a retractable landing light, comprising in combination, a hollow shaft, an angularly shaped arm connected thereto, an outer section of said aim being rotatable on its axis, a lamp se cured to the outer end of the outer section, means to rotate said shaft to swing the lamp in an areaate plane, a rod, means to reciprocate said rod in said hollow shaft and an operating connection from the said rod to the said outer section of the arm to rotate the arm on its axis to incline or tilt the lamp in reference to its plane of arcuate movement.

4. In a retractable landing light, as claimed in claim 3, the connection-between the rod and the outer rotational arm section comprising an oscillating arm secured to the arm section, a resilient connection between the rod and the said oscillating arm and a guide structure to center the oscillating arm on retraction of the lamp to its lamp housing independent of movement of the reciprocating rod to a neutral position.

- 5. In a retractable landing light, comprising in combination, a hollow rotatable shaft formed in axially spaced parts, a yoke bracket arm having two branches each connected to said shaft, said yoke arm having a hub, an extension arm rotatably mounted in said hub having a lamp se-,

cured to the outer end of the extension arm, and means to rotate one part of the rotatable shaft and thereby swing the extension arm and the lamp in an arcuate path.

6. In a retractable landing light, as claimed in claim 5, a rod slidably mounted in the hollow t and having a bearing in each sectionof the sh it, an oscillating arm connected to the extension arm, an interengaging means between the reciprocating rod and the oscillating arm to oscillate said arm on reciprocation of the rod and thus tilt or incline the lamp in reference to its plane of armate movement.

7. In a retractablelanding light, as claimed in claim 5; a rod slidably mounted in the hollow shaft and'having a bearing in each section of the shaft, an oscillating arm connected to the extension am; an interengaging means between the recipirocating rod and the oscillating arm to oscillate said arm on reciprocation of the rod and thus tilt or incline the lamp in reference to its plane of arcuate movement, the interconnection between the oscillating arm and the reciprocating rod comprising springs connected to the rod and enture on swinging of the lamp in an arcuate movement from an extended to a housed position.

LESTER F. LEMM. 

